I've been a vegetarian since May of 2003. One of the most gruesome things happened to me, which caused me to realize just how grotesque meat was. The setting: biology 101. The task: dissection. The subject: fetal pigs. I was (and still am) against dissection in schools.

Several kids in my class got the bright idea that it would be cool to see what the pigs looked like beheaded. Our teacher, paying us little attention as always (thank you, Georgia public schools), didn't notice my classmates as they slowly and horrificly removed the pig's head. Being a photographer, I had my camera with me. So that I would have a valid case later, I snapped a few shots of my ever intelligent and easily amused classmates thoroughly enjoying the product of their boredom.

They proceeded to dance around the back of the classroom with the pig's head as if to recreate some voodoo ritual of some sort, all in "fun and games." The teacher finally realized what my stupid peers were doing and told them simply to "stop acting like kindergardners." I'm sorry, but I don't think five-year-olds would so enjoy a pig's head to the point that they would sever the head themselves and dance with it.

So, to wrap things up as neatly as possible, and to spare some of the gut-wrenching details, I became a vegetarian after having a severed fetal pig's head thrust into my face for approval of my classmates.

--Kalan is 17. Visit her web site.

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Obviously, they weren't getting much out of the "experiment"! I agree, we do have the technology to learn without MURDERING our brothers and sisters. Why don't we have reusable rubber pig fetuses with zippers, magnets, buttons, anything but using a knife to cut open a living creature?! Next year my class has to dissect worms. I don't care if it's "just a worm"! God didn't put it on earth so I could cut it open, look at it, and through it away. Besides, I'll remember what it looked like for a day and then forget and it's a waste of brain cells but mostly, it's killing, disrespectiong life, and using a sappy excuse for murder.

I too am against dissection. In today's society, we have enough knowledge technology to the point where the actual dissection process should already be eliminated from our culture. I have not been around the surrounding of a pig's dissection, for I am only a freshmen, but I know what is coming. I also am a vegetarian and I understand how these non-intelligent bodies full of crap, also known as the majority of teenagers, do not fully understand how precious all lives are, and that is including all animals. I live in South Dakota. Yep, South Dakota; The farm state. I get harassed about this subject all the time. When the time comes for me to dissect anything, you can guaranty that I will not take it sitting down.
--Emily